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Silver Fire continues to grow

Thompson Ridge, Tres Lagunas containment up

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Updated: 11:16 AM MDT Jun 14, 2013

That new fire is in the Pecos wilderness and only a couple of acres, but fire officials are concerned because there’s a lot of downed trees in that area...and a fire could spread quickly. At the same time, in the southern part of the state evacuations are underway for the silver fire.

Silver Fire continues to grow

Thompson Ridge, Tres Lagunas containment up

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Updated: 11:16 AM MDT Jun 14, 2013

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

A new wildfire flared up in the Pecos on Monday.

The Jaroso Fire is one of four major fires burning in New Mexico, and as of Wednesday had burned about 8,000 acres. It is zero percent contained.

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As of Thursday, the Camino Real Ranger District’s trails with access the Pecos Wilderness on the Carson National Forest have been closed.

Meanwhile, evacuations are underway in Grant County to the south, where the 21,400-acre Silver Fire is burning. It is currently zero percent contained.

People in Kingston who have to evacuate can go to the Hillsboro evacuation center. Unusual winds drove the blaze to within a quarter-mile of Kingston and the town is under a mandatory evacuation order.

Highway 152 from San Lorenzo to Hillsborough has been closed.

The Pecos fire has burned two acres, but fire officials are concerned because there are many downed trees in the area so fire could spread quickly.

Fire officials speculate the blaze was sparked by lightning.

"It's primarily on federal forest acres right now. There's a chance that it could spread into private land," said Dan Ware, New Mexico state fire information officer.

The Tres Lagunas Fire near Pecos has burned more than 10,000 acres and is 85 percent contained.

"It's still very much an active, going concern. There is still a lot of heat out there that will need to be dealt with. But it looks like it's in much better shape," Ware said.

The largest fire in the state is the Thompson Ridge Fire near Jemez Springs, which has consumed about 24,000 acres.

The Thompson Ridge fire is 75 percent contained.

"Fire crews have been working extremely hard to keep this fire from crossing New Mexico State Highway 4," Ware said. "The good news is New Mexico Highway 4, which was closed on Sunday, is now open."